Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-12
DOWN WITH COERCION
A GRAND PROTEST AGAINST THE IRISH
CRIMES BILL.
A Mighty Demonstration Of One Hundred aud Fifty
Thousand People in London Ysstsrday-
Speeches Of Lord Mayor Sullivan
and Michael Dayin.

and Michael DayiH.
LONDON, April Ii p. NJ The day
appointed for the great demonstration in
London against the Irish Coercion bill,
now before the House of Commons, opened
brilliantly, the weather being balmy and
the sun shining brightly.
Vast crowds of people are marching to-
wards Hyde Park, where the meetings are
to be held, from every district of London,
with bands, banners and carriages filled
with leaders in the days exercises. The
utmost enthusiasm prevails in the great
throng.
Many of the bankers exhibited Dor
traits of Mr.. Gladstone, Michael Dayitt
and Father Keller, and the inscription
Justice for Ireland" Fourteen plat
forms for the use of orators have been
erected in Hyde Park, and occupy the
whole frontage facing the fashionable Park
lane.
All those taking part in the procession
from the east to the west end of London
wear green roSettes cut to initiate the Irish
emblem, the shamrock. A large force of
police is held in reserve for an emergency.
The gathering in Hyde Park this after
noou was the largest ever held in London
The people were enthusiastic, but orderly.
A motion protesting against the Coercion
bill was offered simultaneously from the
fourteen platforms and carried amid great
enthusiasm. The Socialists stole q march
on the police and erected platforms, from
which several speakers delivered orations
They afterwards held noisy meeting in
Trafalgar Square.
Mrs. Gladstone watched the anti-cOer-
ciOn procession from n window in Picadil-
ly, and WAS given an ovation by the men
in line.
Estimates of the attendance at the Meet
ing vary, but certainly
10000 PERSONS,
including On-lookers were present The
procession took an hour and half to file
into the Park. The first contingent was
composed of members of the Robert Bruce
lodge, then followed large numbers of Irish
temperance lodges, radical wOrkmen's 5
clubs, and social democratic societies.
Numerous bands of music were in line.
While passing Carlton and other conserva-
tive clubs the bands played the Dead
March in Saul'' and the "Marseillaise. "
Green banners and Irish national emblems
were conspicuous in the ranks of the
paraders Among the notices displayed
on the banners of the radicals, were these :
Justice to Ireland, "NO Coercion"
The effect of the careful arrangements
that have been made TO avoid confusion
at the park were seen in the admirable
order in which the paraders grouped them
selves around fourteen platforms. The
greatest thrOng gathered at the platform
from which Lord Mayor Sullivan, of Duh
lin, and Messrs. COnobeare and William
Redmond, members of Parliament, spoke.
LORD MAYOR SULLIVAN,
in the course of most effective speech,
asked: ''Is it the wish of the workmen OF
London that the honest, hard working
tenantry of Ireland shall be forever crushed
down?n
A tremendous responsive mo"
reSOunded throughout the park. Mention
of the Queen as about TO celebrate her iubi-
lee, by signing away the liberties of the
people of Ireland, brought forth torrent
of Kisses, and mention of Mr.. Chamberlain s
name aroused tempest of grOans and
hisses and cries of Traitor" Mr.
Sullivan in conclusion assured his
hearers that the demon
stration would carry hope and JOY into the
hearts Of the Irish. 1t would cheer many
poor struggling man to know that Eng
land was no enemy of Ireland. 'In re-
turn" he said, don't let them believe
those who say the Irish are mortal, implac.
able enemies of England That is false.
hood worthy of the bottomless pit.
Cheers Let there be an end of oppress
ion and injustice, and there will I've an end
of hatred" Prolonged cheering.
MICHAEL DAYITT
appeared at socialist platform. He re-
ferred to the demonstration as proof of the
approaching solidarity of the people Of
Great Britain and Ireland. In proportion
as the masses began to understand each
other, 80 the classes become alarmed. The
privileged classes we'll knew the inevitable
tendency of the Irish movement and sought
to crush Irish leaders, hoping TO prevent
the English people following the example
set by the Irish. But they would hold
the fort in Ireland. (Cheers)
On the day on which the crimes act
should become law they would either
have to give up the struggle that had been
waged for centuries and lie down asslaves
OF render the system impossible of dura'
ton. They would follow manlier course
The classes had in the past built bridge
of hate across the sea; the people
would pull it down and erect q bridge OF
love between the tOilers of Ireland and the
honest workers Of England. Cheers.
John Burns, Socialist leader, followed
Mr.. Davitt. He declared that the state o
Ireland justified civil war, and that th'
English people were ready to assist tn
Irish peasants in revolt.
At 4:3O o'clock bugle sounded, and a
this prearrauged signal a resolution con
demniDg the crimes bill was put simul
taueously at all of the platforms Tn
resolution was carried amid prolonge'
cheers.